Ex-cop indicted for growing marijuana
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A former
Buffalo Police officer, fired from the force, has now been indicted on charges he and
three others were running a marijuana growing operation in the city of Buffalo.
On Monday, former cop Jorge
Melendez, Jason Elardo, Robert Osika and Gale Elardo were charged in a ten
count indictment with conspiracy to manufacture more than 1,000 marijuana
plants, manufacturing more than 100 marijuana plants, maintaining a premises
for drug purposes, and possessing marijuana with the intent to sell it.
Prosecutors say Jason Elardo, and his wife Gale, were also charged with
possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking for firearms located in
their residence in close proximity to marijuana packaged for sale.
At the end of May, Melendez, Jason Elardo and Osika were arrested after a long-term
investigation using hidden surveillance cameras allegedly caught the
men tending to marijuana plants in a warehouse on South Park Avenue.
Authorities say they caught Melendez going into the warehouse while on duty as
a Buffalo Police officer.
In the course of the
investigation, two other grow operations were uncovered on West Woodside Avenue
and Clinton Street. Gale Elardo was then also placed under arrest.
All four were arraigned Monday
afternoon and are due back in court in August. Gale Elardo is scheduled to
return to court on June 28 with an attorney.